I have practiced law in the state of Nebraska since 1993 and have extensive experience in the areas of family law, criminal law, juvenile law and appellate practice. I have practiced in Douglas, Sarpy and Cass counties serving Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, Plattsmouth and surrounding areas. I am familiar with the judges and procedures in each of these courts. I have litigated (too many to count) civil and criminal cases in each of these counties including bench and jury trials. Most notably, I have tried U.S.C. §1983 civil rights violation cases to the jury in the Federal court of Nebraska.
Jeff Wagner
What Jeff Does Best
I practice in all aspects of Family Law litigation. From representing parents in custody and divorce cases. To being appointed by the court to serve as special master in property disputes in such cases. I have also served as Guardian ad Litem for children impacted by these proceedings.
Divorce is hard to go through, I have both professional and personal experience with how hard it can be. I can be a very aggressive attorney, but that aggressive manner is not how I handle every issue in every case. Many divorces can be done amicably, but when they cant and you need a tough litigator in the court room I can be that advocate for you.
A word of caution to the parents of children going through divorce. Often times as lawyer or guardian ad litem I have had the opportunity to meet the children involved. They are often bright and wonderful children, I have counseled client’s and parents when I am GAL that if they continue using the children as weapons or pawns they are going to seriously F&(* them up psychologically and emotionally. Don’t hurt your kids, think of them first and foremost.
Criminal law perhaps has the most immediate and significant impact on my clients. Being convicted of a crime can put you in prison. These are serious cases involving complex legal issues that must me understood and excellent trial skills. When I am trying a criminal case to a Judge in a bench trial or a Jury in a jury trial I want to make sure I can paint an accurate and ethical defense. However I am just not thinking of the Judge and Jury when I try the case. I am thinking of what an appellate court will see in the record in case of an appeal. I must protect your appellate rights in your trial. Trial judges sometimes get things wrong, I have to make sure as your attorney that the trial record makes note of those mistakes/objections in order to get the appellate court to over turn the trial court. Somewhere in this process I will likely tell you “this aint my first Rodeo” and indeed it is not.
A couple years ago I need to know how many appellate cases I had been involved in for the State of Nebraska. My name has been attached to over 140 appellate cases. That is not to say that I brought or defended the appeals in every one of these cases, but I did in many of them. My appellate advocacy for my client has changed the law in Nebraska more that once. In the case of Borius H. the Nebraska Supreme Court established clear procedures to be followed by the State in seeking the emergency detention of children in foster care. In the case of Chattergee v. Chattergee, the Nebraska Supreme Court in considering the application of “Lord Mansfield’s Rule” that a child born of a married couple is the child of that married couple. Sadly in the case of Birkett v. Nebraska the Supreme Court did not rule in our favor. In this case the Supreme Court held that the State of Nebraska/Department of Health and Human Services could not be held liable for the actions of a caseworker in failing to disclose to a possible adoptive family that the child being placed with them had a history of sexually acting out. While we lost the appeal it did cause the legislature to change the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act to allow for such suits
If you want to learn more about me and want to discuss any legal issues you may be facing, please fill out the form providing enough detail to ensure we can engage in a productive introduction call.